Words by Eric, pics by Pete
Crew; A Route – PtD, Butty, 3 Sheds, Coley, Stunt, Mr. I, Slim, Eric
Pub – Gee,
Lame excuses; More Easter holidays
Route; BL, Sutton, Hollin Lane, Cleulow Cross, Barlow Hill down, Swythamley, Paddock Farm, Lud’s Church, Forest wood to the hairpin, riverside return, Barlow Hill up, Hollin Lane, Sutton Hall.
Conditions; There was a placebo of a rain shower before the winds dropped and a perfect evening broke out. Still chilly post pub!
Stats; Mr. I, back end threatening to fall off, PtD, wheel bearing woes, Eric, head wobble.
Offs; Nothing major but everyone had at least a couple of brushes with the scenery.
Notes;
After a Northern classic last week it was the south’s turn this week and a classic it turned out to be. The long climb up Hollin Lane out of Sutton was done under darkening skies and the first spots of rain. Fortunately the black clouds moved ahead of us and we were spared the expected soaking. The first stop at Fourways saw our resident superhero attack his rear suspension with ever larger tools eventually resorting to a rock. – which seemed to work. It’s a true superhero who mends his bike suspension with a rock and 30 seconds later is descending Barlow Hill at 30 plus mph.
The climb above paddock was pleasantly dry for the traditional testosterone fuelled race for the summit but the deep mud pits on the following traverse required an element of caution. Once in the woods the root treatment began with a very fine line between carrying enough speed to get over the fiendish things without making the inevitable accident too serious. Stunt lived up to the name with a graceful clipped in cartwheel which qualified as a dab as contact was maintained with the blue Orange at all times. There was some frantic adjustment of tyre pressures at the hairpin before the downhill began; just as darkness fell.
The group soon strung out and the woods echoed to a mix of a whoopin’ and a hollerin’ and grunting a groaning in equal measure accompanied by the sound of contact between expensive bike parts and solid rocks.
Despite the exertions of the battle with the roots and the rocks the lead group raced up Barlow Hill in record time before grabbing the comfy fireside chairs at Sutton Hall. Others maintained a more gentlemanly pace but still arrived in time for pre dinner drinks.
The usual fine ales and conversation were just rewards for a “proper ride”